Angelo Esquivel
Illustration
Editorial and conceptual illustration for magazines, brands, and institutions—
focused on storytelling and clarity.
Featured Projects
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Comstock’s Magazine —
AI & Creativity
2023
Editorial Illustration
Overview
This illustration was originally commissioned for an inside article exploring the idea that, with AI, anyone can now become a modern-day Da Vinci, Michelangelo, or Botticelli. After reviewing the final artwork, the editorial team selected it to run as the cover.
The Challenge
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Connecting classical art history with contemporary
AI tools
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Referencing iconic masterworks without direct imitation
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Creating a visual metaphor strong enough to work at cover scale
The Approach
Researched the work of the great masters and narrowed the reference to The Birth of Venus, choosing it over Mona Lisa for its symbolism and visual clarity. The composition reimagines the scene with a painter’s hand holding a palette—representing AI tools—actively recreating the masterpiece.
The canvas itself becomes the prompts, framing AI as the medium rather than the artist.
Outcome
The illustration resonated with the editorial team and was elevated to the cover, visually anchoring the article’s core idea and reinforcing my ability to deliver concept-driven editorial work that scales beyond its original brief.
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Comstock’s Magazine —
SAC-Hollywood
2024
Editorial Illustration
Overview
This illustration was originally commissioned for an inside feature highlighting filmmakers working in Sacramento. After seeing the final piece, the editorial team selected it to run as the cover. The art director wanted three recognizable portraits rendered with depth and personality—avoiding flat or caricature-style illustration—while visually tying them together in a cohesive composition.
The Challenge
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Capturing accurate likeness without exaggeration or caricature
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Justifying three unrelated faces within a single composition
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Creating an image strong enough to read as a magazine cover
The Approach
To unify the portraits, I treated the illustration as a movie poster rather than a traditional editorial image. I drew inspiration from 1980s film posters, using composition, scale, and atmosphere to create narrative cohesion. Two Sacramento landmarks anchor the scene, while film crew elements act like “behind-the-scenes” moments—framing the subjects as part of a shared cinematic world and reinforcing the idea of Sacramento as a place where stories are made.
Outcome
The final illustration successfully brought three distinct subjects into a single, narrative-driven image and was elevated to the cover. The piece demonstrates my ability to solve compositional challenges, take editorial direction, and adapt style to concept while maintaining clarity and impact.
